ISLAMABAD: Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan said on Wednesday that Pakistan would construct dry ports at the Torkham and Chaman borders in order to facilitate bilateral trade with Afghanistan.

The minister said that Pakistan was seriously working on infrastructure development and road connectivity with Afghanistan which would tremendously help in promoting economic integration between the two countries, a statement said. He expressed these views at the inauguration of “Made in Pakistan Exhibition”, organised by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, in Kabul.

The minister reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to intensify bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan in the areas of trade, culture and defence.

He said the government was keen on enhancing trade relations with Afghanistan and, in this regard, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was encouraging businessmen to invest in the neighbouring country.

The minister said the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry needed to take joint ventures by organising such exhibitions in central Asian as well as other important countries of the world.

He offered his ministry’s support to Afghan traders to facilitate them in organising similar exhibitions in major cities of Pakistan.

He said that a separate desk for facilitation of Afghan and Central Asian traders has been set up in the Ministry of Commerce. Afghan Acting Minister of Commerce Muzammil Shinwari, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Syed Abrar Hussain, President of Pak-Afghan’s Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Khan Jan Alkozay, former President of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Shumail Daud Arian, and organiser of the exhibition, Khurshid Barlas, also addressed the event.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2015

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